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Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer Electric Guitar - Natural

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Korina Body, Korina Neck, Laurel Fingerboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Natural
20 Write review Item ID: Expl58Korina
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Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer Electric Guitar - Natural
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Experience the Rare 1958 Korina Explorer

Crafted in partnership with the Gibson Custom Shop, the Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer is an inspired re-creation of one of the most collectible guitars ever built. This solidbody electric guitar's radical-looking Korina body yields a resonant sound reminiscent of top-shelf mahogany. Its korina neck vaunts a period-correct neck shape and a long neck tenon for spot-on vintage feel and playability. Plug into your favorite amp and revel in timeless PAF tones, courtesy of Gibson Burstbucker humbucking pickups. You also get high-spec'd electronics, with premium Mallory caps and CTS pots. You'll also appreciate the 1958 Korina Explorer's hardware, which includes an ABR-1 bridge, a LockTone stopbar tailpiece, and deluxe tuning machines. This guitar boasts a host of high-end appointments, including black top hat knobs with nickel dial pointers, a hockey-stick-stye headstock, attractive gold hardware, and a gorgeous aged gloss finish. The '58 Korina Explorer is one of the most valuable production-model guitars around, and now, thanks to Epiphone, you can experience the magic for yourself.

Related Videos: 1958 Korina Explorer Electric Guitar - Natural

Ultra-rare korina body and neck

Like the ultra-rare original Gibson model that inspired it, the 1958 Korina Explorer features a korina body and a korina neck with a period-correct neck shape and long neck tenon. This solidbody electric guitar's rich, warm acoustic tone bears a striking similarity to top-quality mahogany, but with a hair more high end. What's more, the 1958 Korina Explorer's natural light yellow-green color is a guaranteed head-turner. Once we got our hands on this guitar here at Sweetwater, we had a tough time putting it down.

Gibson Burstbuckers deliver rock-solid tone

There's a reason players keep coming back to the tried-and-true combo of premium humbucking pickups. With a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge position and a Burstbucker 2 in the neck position, the Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer is as close to a '50s-era guitar as it gets. Specially engineered for authentic PAF tone, these humbuckers go from dark and intense to smokin' hot, delivering the classic bark and bite that rockers and blues guitarists have sought for decades. To top it off, the 1958 Korina Explorer includes high-quality CTS pots and Mallory capacitors.

You can't go wrong with this classic axe

The Explorer's radical look and high-octane sound have inspired rock and metal guitarists for decades, and the 1958 Korina Explorer takes you right back to where it all started. Besides the korina body and neck and the vintage-voiced electronics, this solidbody electric guitar also boasts an ABR-1 bridge, a LockTone stopbar tailpiece, deluxe tuning machines, black top hat knobs with nickel dial pointers, a hockey-stick-stye headstock, attractive gold hardware, and an eye-catching aged gloss finish. If you want a true modern classic, then there's only one thing to do: pick up the 1958 Korina Explorer.

Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer Electric Guitar Features:

  • An inspired re-creation of a 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer
  • Radical-looking Korina body yields a resonant sound reminiscent of top-shelf mahogany
  • Korina neck vaunts a period-correct neck shape and long neck tenon for spot-on vintage feel and playability
  • Indian laurel fingerboard with inconspicuous pearloid dot inlays
  • Gibson Burstbucker humbucking pickups let you tap into timeless PAF tone
  • High-spec'd electronics with premium Mallory caps and CTS pots
  • ABR-1 bridge and LockTone stopbar tailpiece ensure effortless sustain and spot-on intonation
  • Deluxe Epiphone tuning machines offer rock-solid tuning stability
  • Black top hat knobs with nickel dial pointers, hockey-stick-stye headstock, and attractive gold hardware
  • Eye-catching aged gloss finish

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Solidbody
  • Body Shape Explorer
  • Body Material Korina
  • Body Finish Aged Gloss
  • Color Natural
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Korina
  • Neck Shape 1958 Explorer
  • Neck Joint Set Neck
  • Radius 12"
  • Fingerboard Material Indian Laurel
  • Fingerboard Inlay Dots
  • Number of Frets 22
  • Scale Length 24.75"
  • Nut Width 1.693"
  • Nut Material Graph Tech
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stopbar Tailpiece
  • Tuners Epiphone Deluxe
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup Gibson Burstbucker 2 Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup Gibson Burstbucker 3 Humbucker
  • Controls 2 x volume, 1 x tone
  • Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings D'Addario, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig Bag Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: IGCKEXWANAGH1

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5

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Outstanding Guitar

They sure knew what they were doing when they designed this Explorer back in the day. It's the perfect blend of form and function.
Tone, balance, playability and style are all here. And for everything you get here, I believe that it's well worth every penny.
I currently own an old Gibson LP Traditional, an Epiphone Adam Jones Custom Veil of Bees, an Epiphone Jerry Cantrell Wino and now this Korina Explorer.
All of these are professional-grade instruments. A few years ago I would have never considered Epiphone. The Explorers I played then felt more like toys.
This is no toy.
I understand that tone and style are both subjective, but quality isn't. This guitar is put together extremely well. The fit and finish are as good as any top-dollar guitar I've ever played, and I've been at this for over thirty years. Lots of bands, bars, parties and jam sessions.
The Burstbucker pickups here are bright and clear and easily handle anything I throw at them. From Kyuss to Willie, they can do it. It balances great on a strap, and while sitting. The neck is substantial enough for mighty chords and running leads. I'm very impressed.
And the case that's included is a BIG ol' heavy thing. But man, it'll keep the guitar out of harm's way for sure.
If you're considering this Korina Explorer, you've got great taste.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
by Lothar from Kent, Ohio on
Music background: 30 years of smoky bars and tiny studios.

Epiphone 58 Korina explorer

I have had the guitar for a couple weeks now and cherish it. Buying it from Sweetwater makes it easier when making a serious investment in a instrument like this from selecting it from several others to having Colin keeping me informed of the delivery to additional photos of my guitar. It arrived in perfect setup right from the case and loved the tone and feel. This would be my third explorer I've owned over the years, the first two were Gibson but can't compare them because this Epiphone is 58 spec so solid Korina a thick neck and burst bucker pickup's so it's going to sound different. I like this best so far it sounds great it's light balanced and the satin finish feels good especially after playing a couple hours it still feels good and doesn't get sticky. I have been using it to practice and played a jam session with friends it fits like a glove and I can sing and not think to hard about playing. Love this guitar! The case it comes in is a beast though quite the opposite of the guitar and would make a great coffee table.
by Craig Fornell from Penn Valley Ca. on
Music background: Lifelong hobby

Great explorer!

I've had this guitar for a week now and have been playing it a lot, First always a pleasure with Sweetwater and Colin Ingalls was great and the guitar arrived and was in perfect playing shape straight out of the case ( case is crazy heavy ) and first thing I noticed was the highly polished frets and the action and set up was perfect. Next was the tone these 58 Corina's sound great period and the Burst buckers which I had no previous experience with sound very clear and bright compared to PAF's and stay articulate when you roll off the volume and tone. A 10 on 10 for me and glad to own a explorer once again.
by Craig from Penn Valley Ca. on
Music background: Lifetime Player

Unbelievable!!!!

I have been trying to find a Korina Explorer forever. I was planning on getting a new Gibson Explorer, but I decided to give this Epiphone Explorer a try. You have to see and hear this guitar to believe it. Super high quality at a very fair price, and the guitar comes with a incredible case. This guitar is BEAUTIFUL!
by Charles Maschi from Wanaque, NJ on
Music background: Lifelong player.

What a great guitar!

I didn't know the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Korina Explorer was in the works, but the day it was released (February 28) I saw a social media post about it and immediately went to the Sweetwater site. When I landed on the page for the Explorer there were three left in stock; two were sold while I was looking at them. I put the remaining one in my cart and went straight to checkout.

When my Explorer arrived a few days later (it first spent a couple of days waiting for Sweetwater's Guitar Workshop to install a bone nut upgrade), I noticed that the outer box was badly beaten up, with one end almost crushed and a puncture tear in one side large enough to see the inner box. My wife had been out for a run in the neighborhood and saw the FedEx truck stop several houses from ours. When she ran by the truck she hear loud bang like a dropped box and voice inside exclaim, "Oh, sh___!" But I waited the recommended 24-hour acclimation period to see what I might discover inside.

That Explorer was beautiful and played beautifully--but also had a large spreading crack along the neck joint. It might have been only a superficial crack in the poly finish, but the location and the force it likely underwent due to rough handling made me reluctant to take a chance on everything being OK structurally. ( I do note that while the deluxe case that comes with this instrument is impressive, there is a little bit of play inside that might or might not have contributed to the crack in transit.) My Sweetwater sales engineer Nate was tremendously helpful in arranging for me to ship the guitar back at no cost and moving me to the front of the list for the next shipment they were expecting.

I received the new Explorer on April 3, and after waiting a full 27 hours before opening for good measure I opened the box and case to find a flawless instrument, with nary a crack nor even a blemish, perfectly set up, with the best-filed fret ends I've ever seen and felt on a guitar. It's also the most resonant-sounding guitar unplugged that I've ever played.

The shape of the Explorer makes for a bit more neck dive than some other guitars, but that has been easily remedied with a leather strap and by adjusting the strap low enough for a comfortable elbow/upper forearm anchor a bit to the left from the top corner of the body (for a right-handed player).

While some potential buyers might object to a price point only a few hundred from the $1,999.99 USD Gibson Explorer (mahogany), it should be kept in mind that this is not the Epiphone version of that guitar, but rather the counterpart to the $9,999.99 USD Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Korina Explorer. $1,299.99 for a guitar very close to that latter guitar is a steal of a deal, and with Gibson pickups and wiring--end even the Gibson name on the back of the headstock--it looks, feels, and plays very close to its Gibson Custom Shop counterpart that is out of the price range of most guitarists.

The only mod I'm contemplating making is swapping the Kluson-style deluxe vintage tuners--which do match the look of the 1958 original--for Grover mini-rotomatic locking tuners. I much prefer locking tuners on my guitars, and I like the look of the small gold oval buttons better than the large white keystone buttons. (Kluson does make a locking version of the deluxe vintage tuners, but they are much heavier and have a different operating mechanism than the Grover rotomatic locking tuners.)

Bottom line--I couldn't be happier with this guitar and with the service I've received from Sweetwater.
by Steve Harmon from Shelby, NC on
See also: Solid Body Guitars, Epiphone, Epiphone Solidbody Guitars
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